The MP Congress will launch a three-day campaign in Gwalior from June 23 to demand the installation of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s statue at the High Court premises, amid political controversy and legal opposition. Senior Congress leaders accuse BJP-RSS of obstructing the initiative.
The Madhya Pradesh Congress has announced a three-day campaign from June 23 to June 25 to demand the installation of a statue of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar at the Gwalior bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The decision comes amid an ongoing controversy sparked by opposition from a section of the legal fraternity, despite prior approval of the proposal by the High Court registrar.
The campaign was announced by State Congress President Jitu Patwari during a press conference at the party headquarters in Bhopal on Tuesday. He said that the initiative would begin with a door-to-door public outreach on June 23 in Gwalior, followed by community meetings on June 24, and would culminate in a day-long fast at the High Court premises on June 25.
“This campaign is not just about a statue. It’s about upholding the values and legacy of Dr. Ambedkar,” said Patwari. “We want to ensure that the people of Gwalior know who is obstructing the honour that Dr. Ambedkar rightfully deserves.”
The press conference was attended by several senior Congress leaders including Madhya Pradesh Congress in-charge Harish Chaudhary, former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh, Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar, and senior Dalit leader Phool Singh Baraiya.
Harish Chaudhary took a direct swipe at the BJP and its ideological mentor RSS, accusing them of trying to derail the statue installation. “This campaign will expose the forces opposing the ideals of social justice that Ambedkar stood for,” he said.
Former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh also strongly criticized the opposition to the statue. “If Dr. Ambedkar’s statue can be installed in the Supreme Court premises, why is it being opposed at the Madhya Pradesh High Court? The registrar had already approved the plan. This is a manufactured controversy,” Singh said, reiterating the remarks he made during a recent visit to Gwalior.
The roots of the issue go back to February 2025, when a proposal to install the statue at the Gwalior bench was submitted and subsequently approved by a High Court committee. However, in March, opposition emerged from a section of lawyers who staged a protest against the move. Tensions flared when lawyers supporting the installation clashed with those opposing it on court premises.
The situation further escalated when members of the opposing group allegedly attempted to block the proposed site by hoisting the national flag there—an act viewed by critics as an effort to politicize the issue and stall the proposal under the guise of nationalism.
Despite Registrar Yuval Raghuvanshi’s initial approval, persistent opposition from some members of the legal fraternity led to the decision being put on hold. Since then, Congress leaders have continued to press for the statue’s installation, framing it as a fight for dignity and representation for marginalized communities.
“This is a question of constitutional respect. Dr. Ambedkar is the architect of our Constitution. Denying his statue in a legal institution reflects a deep-rooted bias,” said senior Congress leader Phool Singh Baraiya.
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As the Congress ramps up its efforts with this focused campaign in Gwalior, the issue is likely to gain further traction in the public domain, especially with Ambedkar’s enduring relevance among Dalits, OBCs, and other marginalized sections.
Observers suggest that beyond the statue, this campaign could serve as a broader political strategy to mobilize support among Dalit voters ahead of future elections in Madhya Pradesh.
